August 21.
Merlin’s Cave, and Stephen Duck.
We are told on the thirtieth of June, 1735, that her majesty (the queen of George II.) ordered “Mr. Rysbrack to make the bustos in marble of all the kings of England from William the Conqueror, in order to be placed in her new building in the gardens at Richmond.”
On the twenty-first of August, in the same year, we learn that the figures her majesty had ordered for Merlin’s cave were placed therein, viz. 1.—Merlin at a table with conjuring books and mathematical instruments, taken from the face of Mr. Ernest, page to the prince of Wales; 2.—King Henry VIIth’s queen, and 3.—Queen Elizabeth, who come to Merlin for knowledge, the former from the face of Mrs. Margaret Purcell, and the latter from Miss Paget’s; 4.—Minerva from Mrs. Poyntz’s; 5.—Merlin’s secretary, from Mr. Kemp’s, one of his royal highness the duke’s grenadiers; and 6.—a witch, from a tradesman’s wife at Richmond. Her majesty ordered also a choice collection of English books to be placed therein; and appointed Mr. Stephen Duck to be cave and library keeper, and his wife to an office of trust and employment.[300]
Stephen Duck was a versifying thrasher, whom she got appointed a yeoman of the guard, and afterwards obtained orders for, and the living of Byfleet, in Surrey. The poor fellow sought happiness at the wrong end, and drowned himself in 1756.
Contentment, rosy, dimpled maid,
Thou brightest daughter of the sky,
Why dost thou to the hut repair,
And from the gilded palace fly?
I’ve trac’d thee on the peasant’s cheek;
I’ve mark’d thee in the milkmaid’s smile;
I’ve heard thee loudly laugh and speak,
Amid the sons of want and toil.
Yet, in the circles of the great,
Where fortune’s gifts are all combined,
I’ve sought thee early, sought thee late,
And ne’er thy lovely form could find.
Since then from wealth and pomp you flee,
I ask but competence and thee!
Lady Manners.